London Bridge’s high-end The Shard unveils Bar 31

The “created by locals, for locals” Bar 31 has been revealed as the newest edition to the immensely luxurious and eye-catching Shangri-La At The Shard in London. Intentionally located at the base of the towering high-end hotel, the bar is now the closest drinking spot to London Bridge Station and will waste no time in cementing itself as a go-to for visitors and locals alike.

Floor to ceiling windows will be filling Bar 31 with views of the bustling London Bridge neighbourhood while the bar’s kitchen leans heavily on some of the city’s most skilled growers and producers to put together a food menu that focuses on locally sourced ingredients for options like British cured meats and cheeses, healthy rice bowls and more. Of course, the drinks will be the main draw for this watering hole, and the bar plan to continue sourcing unique beers from nearby Bermondsey breweries, highlighting the best of London’s craft beer scene with the likes of Hiver Brewery’s Hiver Blonde honey beer, and Anspach & Hobday’s full-bodied porter, along with local gins and spirits.

Though, what should clearly distinguish this bar from the city’s numerous hotel bars will be an admirable dedication to showcasing local talent beyond just food and drink. The hotel has sought talented buskers from areas like Bermondsey, London Bridge and Piccadilly Circus, and invited them to join a live music program that will fill the bar with life every Friday and Saturday night. In addition to this, Bar 31 will host a range of events including open mic and comedy nights, art masterclasses and yoga sessions on an outdoor terrace.

Art plays a big part here. Renowned graffiti artist Mr. Cenz has created a piece in-situ for the bar, illustrating the space along with other newly commissioned installations, many of which are being crafted live on site. This will include a mosaic entitled “A Riot of Colour”, set to become the feature on a wall of the bar, displaying hand-crafted work using ceramic pieces that have washed up on the banks of the Thames and which date back to the Roman times. Would you expect anything less from Shangri-La?